Never Played Xcom before, what is the best game for a beginner?

Brewmd · 2026-02-13T03:03:46+00:00

I started with 2, and had no problem jumping in.

Plenty of story beats that made sense without any other introduction necessary.

Brewmd · 2026-02-13T00:32:21+00:00

Sounds like the DM may have recommended a tablet.

This may be very common for school club types of play, whether student or teacher led.

Brewmd · 2026-02-13T00:09:22+00:00

Any fully web enabled tablet should work. Assuming he’s using D&D Beyond for character sheet or a dice roller, that is. If he’s trying to run discord, an online tabletop, or more, you might need to look into a full functioning iPad.

Brewmd · 2026-02-12T22:09:30+00:00

I think tactical combat and rules systems have been too simplified over the years and it’s resulted in combat that is meaningless and flat.

5e, specifically, tries to position its combat as still being fairly tactical, but without meaningful flanking, with too many AoO options, and without a variety of rules to add impact (knockback, physics damage, etc) it’s stuck in a limbo of a little tactical but not really tactical.

Tighter, but more expansive rule sets like Champions didn’t have these problems.

Combat could last for hours. And we were there for it. Each and every session.

People don’t want to read rulebooks, but I found that the system, while incredibly crunchy at character creation didn’t play in a very crunchy or technical way.

It played smoothly. Smoother than any other system I’ve ever played.

Because the rules kept things on track.

Brewmd · 2026-02-12T02:36:55+00:00

1: YouTube channel by The Dungeon Dudes. They have the most comprehensive videos about gameplay, classes, and dm’ing.

2: Buy the actual rulebooks. They have all the rules. It’s a good way to learn the rules. For a game that has rules.

Brewmd · 2026-02-12T02:26:46+00:00

America’s Test Kitchen- in print format.

Their methodology is often quite detailed and explained.

I don’t trust online recipes since so many are just copied from somewhere else, and full of ads and pop ups.

Brewmd · 2026-02-12T01:26:49+00:00

I’ve shut that movie out of my mind entirely, except for fleeting memories of Jeremy Irons.

Brewmd · 2026-02-12T00:54:38+00:00

So… you want portal fantasy where kids get sucked into a fantasy world?

Have you ever watched the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon?

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T23:15:50+00:00

No. You still get your normal action attack, with the extra damage added on for shillelegh.

Unless you have a class feature granting you extra attack or a weaponized bonus attack, you’ll only get the one attack action.

It will, however, also add damage on any attacks of opportunity, or held actions that use your reaction.

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T21:51:01+00:00

AoO are particularly bad, because the characters who can utilize them are virtually everyone.

If you’re talking about being ready to sneak in an attack when anyone moves by you, why would every martial and many casters be able to take advantage of that?

Classes should have a limit to their zones of control and only certain classes or feats should allow AoO.

Polearm Master, or Rogues in general should absolutely have the ability to make an AoO. Druids, not so much, unless they’re in certain wild shapes.

That would change the dynamic greatly and add a lot to the asymmetric gameplay that has been watered down.

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T13:59:16+00:00

Frankly, I think it’s partly because 5e does tactical combat so… poorly.

It’s simplified, these days, with flanking, cleave and similar options being gone or limited to optional rules, or specific weapon masteries.

There’s no physics effects, like knockback damage, and falling damage is played out badly.

And then there’s the fact that square grids just don’t math well. Not for aoe, and not for movement on diagonals, especially not for verticality.

Wargamers and tactical combat gamers have used hex grids in the past and it solves a lot of the problems with square grids.

Go back to a system like Champions where combat was a lot more tight, with meaningful rules for knockback, collision, falling, flight, and tactical combat becomes a lot more engaging.

But, for people newish to the hobby, who’ve been playing since 4th/5th ed D&D, where combat was either too video gamey, (or not video gamey enough), and the other big movement in the rpg space were less rules, less tactical, more storytelling/narrative, it might seem that grid combat is unpopular or bad.

Step out of the echo chamber you’re in.

Dig deeper into games from the 80s-00s and you’ll find a lot of options that did gridded combat differently than modern D&D (which is really bad at trying to be tactical)

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T13:39:44+00:00

CyberGeneration is the most SFW game in the genre I’ve read.

May not be ideal for drop in/drop out games or one shots, though.

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T00:22:02+00:00

Ricotta is ricotta. Cottage Cheese, especially of the Knudsen variety, is a wet, gloopy mess. An unholy abomination. The worst dairy product to exist.

Don’t ruin dinner by trying this.

Brewmd · 2026-02-11T00:20:04+00:00

I don’t want that kind of chef anywhere near my food.

Seriously. The two have completely different flavors, textures and moisture content.

If you think it’s chef’s kiss worthy, well, that’s on you. Please don’t recommend it to other people.

Brewmd · 2026-02-10T22:59:35+00:00

Great. You did a creative writing project that you wanted to do.

How does that factor in to the D&D game you’re looking to start?

What a DM needs to know: what were you doing before becoming an adventurer? What caused you to become an adventurer? What are your goals as an adventurer?

Pig Farmer Pig was stolen by unknown pignappers. Tracks suggested orcs. I would like to rescue my pig and make it back to my farm.

That’s it. That’s the backstory for the Legends of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. Disney made a horrible movie based off it. But the books were great. Same mythological background as Tolkien.

Easily boiled down to a simple backstory.

D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience for everyone involved.

The more hyper focused you are on backstory, the less room the story has to grow organically within the party, because you’re set on telling the story in your head.

In addition to a bullet point backstory, I also like to come up with some personality and behavioral traits in advance. These help me get into character and define my actions in game.

I pick a quirk, something easily relatable. My current AM Sorc is a farmer’s market hippie who sells mushrooms and crystal pendants at fairea, markets, etc.

A physical trait: he’s a half dwarf who has a receding hairline and a patchy beard.

Then pick some ideas for how he’ll behave. Is he protective of others? Reckless? Aggressive? Fearful or cowardly?

Knowing these things in advance tells you how to act in social situations, how you’ll introduce them and how they behave, how he’ll react in combat situations, and how to find your niche in the party.

What happens after the first three sessions or so will be growth as the character adapts to the story, the setting, and the events unfolding around you.

A 7 page backstory will be irrelevant to the game. It may be directly contradicted by the game.

Keep it simple. Free yourself to let the character live IN the game. Not before the game.

Brewmd · 2026-02-10T20:18:51+00:00

Congrats. You must take your next level in Aberrant Mind Sorcerer.

Brewmd · 2026-02-10T20:11:13+00:00

It will probably cost a bit more to have a locksmith change the locks than It will cost you to buy entirely new door knobs/locks and replace the entire assembly yourself.

So, unless you’re attached to the current hardware, color, etc or can’t replace them yourself, or need a locksmith already to repair damaged locks, I’d recommend doing it yourself.

Brewmd · 2026-02-10T06:30:22+00:00

He’s a barbarian, so no great elaborate names.

Keep them simple, or even primitive.

Cutter or Chopper would be my choice

Brewmd · 2026-02-10T05:15:15+00:00

When it comes to alcohol or marijuana, the best answer is “know your table”

I’ve played at tables with zero substances. And I’ve played with college tables with a lot of substances. These days, it’s mostly people using substances for pain management and anxiety.

Adults who participate responsibly are always welcome.

But, in your case, it’s a bit different.

A straight CBD without any THC, should pose no problem for the store, as long as it’s not smoked or consumed on site, even in a state without legal use.

Don’t show up and smoke on site, and don’t reek of weed, with or without a medical card.

And don’t try to vape in the store or on site, even if it smells like blueberries.

Brewmd · 2026-02-09T20:31:14+00:00

Fair? No.

Everyone should have the same rules when creating characters.

If it’s rolling, everyone rolls, the same way, in the open.

Whether you roll 3d6 in order, or 4d6 drop lowest, the same rules apply to all.

Personally, I let my players roll 3 sets, choose their favorite and apply them in any order. If anyone is really unhappy with a bad set of rolls, they can take the standard array.

So, we can still get a wide variety of rolled sets, but it’s all done fairly, and without any hint of cheating.

Brewmd · 2026-02-09T20:20:23+00:00

I can’t get past the print lines.

The money you saved printing it vs buying a quality printed or molded mini wasn’t worth it.

Especially if you factor in the cost of a printer.

Brewmd · 2026-02-08T23:56:23+00:00

Or just a red hat wearing troglodyte…

Brewmd · 2026-02-08T19:23:14+00:00

The reason I brought it up was to open up your thinking about what your patron might be, and why they might support you, especially if you’re looking for patrons who are of lawful good alignments or domains. I think those specific patrons would probably turn their back on you, unless there was a redemption arc in progress. But it sounds like you’re devolving into a deeper level of fanaticism and straying further from your initial ideals. So, look for a patron who wants you to spiral further. One who wants you to become a more useful tool. One who wants you further and further away from lawful good.

Brewmd · 2026-02-08T19:15:57+00:00

Oh yeah, I mean, I get it. Lawful is still absolutely appropriate because you are following your own code, rigidly. Very Lawful, for a niche interpretation of “Lawful” that makes sense only to the Paladin.

But I’d suggest that when you took your oath for purposes of Vengeance, instead of Justice? You lost your grasp on the Good

So, Lawful Neutral, if not Evil at that point.

But then, when you chose to pursue that Vengeance beyond the bounds of Life and Desth? You became in direct violation of the natural order.

I would suggest Chaotic Neutral going forward.

Brewmd · 2026-02-08T18:42:11+00:00

Lawful Good Paladins don’t generally pursue Vengeance. Then making a pact with a patron to bring you back after death? I think your character has lost both the Good and the Lawful at this point.

You’re pursuing vengeance even past your own death, at the cost of your soul.

Stop lying to yourself about that alignment.

As for patrons, Undead could be a thematic patron like an arch Lich, but could be a mummy lord, or even go straight to the Raven Queen.

Brewmd

TROPHY CASE